Chronic rhinosinusitis adversely effects quality of life in people with bronchiectasis

Published online: March 2, 2019

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been reported in people with bronchiectasis, but how prevalent it is and what impact it has on disease severity and well-being in this population are unclear.

In a research article recently published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, Handley and colleagues completed a review exploring the prevalence of CRS in patients with bronchiectasis and its clinical impact on symptoms, quality of life and severity of lung disease. The review included eight papers with 797 adult participants.

The prevalence of CRS in bronchiectasis was 62% and, of those, 29% also had nasal polyps. A diagnosis of CRS was linked to more severe bronchiectasis, poorer quality of life and well-being, and a reduced ability to detect smells. People with bronchiectasis and CRS were more likely to experience an acute flare up of their lung condition in a shorter period of time compared to people without CRS.

These results highlight the importance of screening for symptoms of CRS in people with bronchiectasis, given the adverse clinical effects of this upper airway condition. Further studies  to determine the most effective treatments for CRS in people with bronchiectasis are needed.  

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice is an official journal of the AAAAI, focusing on practical information for the practicing clinician.